What student leadership looks like

Leadership is multi-faceted; it’s not merely about a title or managing a team. It involves guiding, supporting, and influencing others in diverse ways. Often at university, it could mean stepping up by helping fellow students during group projects or taking initiative in a club, or a paid or volunteer role. University presents you with countless opportunities to practice leadership.
On Friday 18 October, at the Student Leaders Awards Ceremony, we celebrated students who practiced their leadership skills through diverse experiences, whether in formal positions or by taking the initiative.
Congratulations to the nominees, your efforts are recognised and we hope you use this affirmation to highlight your achievements to broader audiences in the future, such as employers and collaborators.
To the winners, we hope your award consolidates the hard work, dedication, and strategic thinking you've invested in leading the student community and initiatives.
We encourage students to consider how they might develop their leadership skills by exploring how award winners contribute and impact the community.
Get inspired by how our winners positively impact their communities
Outstanding Graduate Achievement Award — Baitao Chang
Baitao is studying for a Master of Environmental Policy and Management and has completed the Adelaide Graduate Award, participated in the Global IQ Connect Program, is a Career and Employability Ambassador, involved with the State Emergency Service, and through the English Language Centre's Connection Mate Program, they've helped bridge the gap between international students and local culture to enhance a sense of belonging.
Innovative Leadership Excellence Award — Valerie Yung
Valerie is undertaking a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and holds several roles including Vice President of the Adelaide University Rural Health Alliance, Treasurer of the Adelaide University Hip Hop Club, and is a first-year representative of the Adelaide University Dental Student Society. Valerie collaborated with the Adelaide Dental and the UoA Domestic Recruitment Team to introduce a three-day Riverland Dental Outreach Trip to visit schools and rural dental clinics. She was awarded first prize for the Adelaide MedTech Hackathon by the Adelaide Business School and ThincLab.
Influential Leader Award — Grant Freeman
Grant is pursuing a Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning while building social and peer support networks, and manages several WhatsApp groups to support and connect students. He is also a Cancer Council Ambassador, a Lifeline and CFS volunteer, an academic Student Representative, a Succeed@Adelaide Student Ambassador, and a member of the Adelaide University Student Advisory Panel.
Cultural Engagement Excellence Award — Grace Austin, Ailani Cox, Tori Johns, and Nate Wearing.
Grace and Tori are Gender Officers, and Ailani and Nate are Queer Officers for the Adelaide Medical School. Together they have led meetings for queer and gender-diverse medical students, organised a scavenger hunt for first-year medical students during orientation, and delivered the Adelaide Medical Students' Society's Quiz Night raising $1000 for the Feast Queer Youth Drop In service. Additionally, the group organised a movie night to foster an appreciation for culturally important queer cinema as part of International Day Against Homophobic, Biphobia and Transphobia. Their work co-creating a queer health basics module will be available to medical schools across Australia to introduce this concept to first-year medical students.
Outstanding Scholarly Leader Award (two winners!) — Mahshiat Tahsin and Kimberley Handley
Mashiat is studying for a Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences with a Major in Neuroscience. In her third year, Mashiat demonstrates a remarkable dedication to her studies with a phenomenal 6.55 GPA. She was recently awarded one of three highly competitive Neuroscience Research Foundation's Brain Tumour Research Scholarships. In addition, Mashiat is a Succeed@Adelaide Ambassador, a Future Students Advisor, a member of the Adelaide University Student Advisory Panel, and a PASS Leader for Essentials of Neuroscience ... and more!
Kimberley is undertaking a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at our Roseworthy Campus where she was a peer mentor, senior peer mentor, PASS Leader, and Roseworthy PASS Coordinator. She has been a student representative for the Staff Student Liaison Committee at the Roseworthy Residential College, a student representative for her program, and the Veterinary Bioscience, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences Program Management Committee. In 2022, Kimberley was recognised for her work in PASS and Peer Mentor Programs with the Vice Chancellor's Student Volunteer of the Year Award.
Outstanding Scholarly Leader Award, highly commended — Rajshree Ghimiray
Rajshree was awarded for her academic and extracurricular excellence with roles as the Co-Founder and Co-President of the Philosophy, Politics and Economics Society; membership on the Student Advisory Panel, the Student Engagement Committee, and Student Leader Events Committee. She is also an Academic Student Representative and Co-President of the Adelaide Indian Students' Society.
Incredible Human Medibank Award — Louisa Tedesco
This award celebrates students recognised by their peers or mentors for showing empathy and care towards others.
Louisa is pursuing a Master of Teaching (Secondary) and in May this year was promoted to the role of Succeed@Adelaide Student Ambassador Leader, training and supervising around 70 ambassadors. During her time, Louisa has shown commitment to the wellbeing of every team member, ensuring they feel valued and supported. She is noted by her peers as always striving to connect, understand the perspectives of others and offer encouragement and hope. It is her genuine care and empathy that supports students both personally and professionally.
Incredible Human Medibank Award, highly commended — Kansas Bird
Kansas is undertaking a Master of Curatorial and Museum Studies and served as president of the Adelaide University Pride Club for two and a half years. Their work has created a safer and more welcoming environment for queer students and staff. Through tireless efforts to provide care for friends in crisis, Kansas instigates new initiatives to ensure the Pride Club remains operating and involved with the wider community.